hughes



March 8, 1932. w. F. HUGHES FRICTION CLUTCH Filed Dec.'16, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet l March 8, 1932. w. F. HUGHES 1,848,887

FRICTION CLUTCH Filed Dec. 16, 1929 2 sheets-sheep 2 I Ml 1 51;. 4

18 g; I2 !I f6 4r 14 7 I Patented Mar. 1932 1 wI- L AM E..:ImeEEs,IorBoomeran-inmriorsu'lssrelvon T0 aoexronnmtnmnte aCHINE CQfLGEnoqxeonnfrmzrrtors; A'GOBPORATIQNUFILIJINOIS I 1 FRICTION CLUTCH fApplicationfiled- Da m r 16, 1929, Serial Ne. 4144273. i

This invention relates .to friction "clutches especiallyadaptedfforxu'se on motor vehicles. The clutch df my invention is oneprincipally characterized "by theelin iiuation of the usual hack-plate.Clutches ofthis kind have been in popular demand in recent years. It

s is "common-practiceinfthe case of these clutches forthe carmanufacturer to have the levers on the pressure plate; the clutch hadslowed down production and, of course, in-

to beassenihled gpiece p'iejce directly on'fthe car. This reqiliredconsiderable {time and volved extra labor" cost. It is, therefore theprincipal object of my-in-vention torprocaged an'd'yu ider compressionso that they' they can he slipped-over the studs intoproper,position-all at one time when the pressure vide 'a' 'clutc'h wherein thepressure plate as-.

sem'hly'isiso constructed thatthe assembling of the clutch on "theflywheel is redueeld'to a few simpleoperations wh'ich do not GVQILiI1-volve the threading of nuts on the studs, and can be 'compl-ete'dfiin a:ems-11 fraction of the time otherwise required". f V i According-to' myinvention, the' pressure plate not only hasthe release levers assem-jbled thereon when shipped't'o the car ina'nu facturer; but has coversholding the springs plate is placed-on flywheel. [Furthermore, thecovers are each eqi-iip'pedwith lock;

ing levers arranged to heturnedf to 'an out-ofthe-way p'o's'iti'onytopernii'tth-e passageof the ends of the-studs through holes in the:covers in the positioning of the pressure, "plate andsubsequently-turned to eriyggagg ev in annular grooves .providedthereforln the projecting ends of the studs, wherebytto asse'nihle the covers'onfth-e; studs and'thereby hold the springs inplace." It'is adieatureof my in ventio-n to provide pins inserted at the time the springs areassembled on the pressure plate for quic'l'rly "detachably securing the"1 covers to-lugs proridedon the pressureplate nade t o t and holding thes r ingslcaged' 'and under compression, these pins being arranged-to hepulled out after the locking of the covers i to the studs, asijustdescribed, It-i'sQ a still further. feature of my invention to providetwo holes in each of the lugs onthepressure,

plate and two sets of annular groovesin the.

studs on the flywheel, correspondingly spaced, and to enter the pin 'foreach cover in the one hole when the clutdh'is shipped to the carmanufacturer and enterthe lockingjlevers in the one set of grooves atthe time of initial assembly of the clutch on the flywheel, the.

is other hole in'ieach lug being arranged 'to 'be used later after ltheclutch has'b' e'en worn to apredetermlned extent, when a .pin: maybee-n-I teredftherein 'to fastenfeach-cover tof'the pres- Vsure-plate'Wi-th the springs placed undercompression to permitthe'entering ofthe locking 1 l sin-the other set of (grooves; Thus, I

provide for a simple take uplfor Wear and make it practical tou'sealighter spring pres sure on the vpressure plate when the clutch isnew,"instead of havingthe clutch overloaded with spring pressure' at thetime; the clutch- ISIIIBYW n order to allow for the Wear, as' is now thepractieathat practice being objectiona-ble} because nake's-the'clutchhard to{ operate; I: r I i p The invention is fully described in the following specificationun which reference is 1nr V. j c Figure 11s a'rearView of the pressure plate 18 accompanyingdrawings, Whereto be shipped.tothe car. manufacturer, the I right half of the assembly heing broken.awayto perniitshowing; the rest on a'larger scale; s

' Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2ofFig.

held caged and under Compression by means" .rs'c

1 illustrating howi each palr of springs 1s.

o'f'a cover-e pinned to-a lug on the pressure plate Fig"; 3 is sectionof the clutch assembled in section as viewed on the line 33 of Fig;

Land I Fig. 4 is a'section similar to 'Fig. 2;but

showingthefcover locked to studson thefify 7 p I c r r on the flywheel,the pressure plate appear ng assembly, showing'the same as it is.arranged I i ence to a clutch built without the usual back plate toserve as a backing for the springs acting against the pressure plate andas a mounting for release levers for actuating the pressure plate. Mostclutches of this kind provided in the past have been of more or esscomplicated and expensive construction and.

were difficult to assemble and unhandy to adjust. My invention has forits principal object the simplification and cheapening of theconstruction of a clutch of this kind permitting of much easierassembling as well as handler adjustment. I

Referring first to Fig. 3, the reference numeral 5 designates aflywheel, only a portion ofwhich is shown, it being understood that thesame is mounted in the usual way on the rear end of the automobile crankshaft. The flywheel, of course, constitutes the driving element of theclutch. A shaft 6, constituting the driven element, ordinarily extendsrearwardly from the clutch into the gear box of the transmission, therebeing a housing about the fly .wheel and clutch assembly at the frontend of the gear box, as is well known. The housing usually has aninspect ion plate which, when removed, affords access to the clutch forpurposes of adjustment. The clutch disc appears at 7 carried on a hub 8splined, as shown, on the forward end of the shaft 6. The disc has theusual pads or facings 9 on opposite sides of the marginal portionthereof disposed for engagement with the flywheel 5 and pressure plate10. The back face 11 of the flywheel 5' is ground smooth and square withthe axis and the sameis true of the front face 12 ofthe pressure plate10. The clutch, as thus far described, is of ordinary construction andnoinvention is, of course, claimed in these details excepting onlyinsofar as they form a part of the novel combination hereinafterdescribed. In passing, it may be stated that it is also common practlceto provide springs mounted on studs projecting from the back of theflywheel for urging the pressure plate toward the flywheel tofrictionally engage the disc? therebetween, and that it is likewisecommon practice to provide release levers mounted on the pressure plateand fulcrumed on studs projecting from the back of the flywheel andarranged to be actuated by a throw-out sleeve, the latter being operatedby a yoke which, in turn, is operated by a foot pedal, in a manner wellknown in this art.

According to my invention, the car n1anufacturer has the flywheel 5provided not only with the ground face 11 but also with a plurality ofstuds 13 located according to the specifications of the clutch to beused. The clutch manufacturer casts the pressure plate eases? 10 withcored out holes 14, correspondingly located, so as to permit projectionof the studs 13 therethrough, as shown in Fig. 3. A coiled compressionspring 15 is provided for each stud. It is common to provide six studsand six springs therefor, the studs being preferably provided at eitherside of a release lever 16, of which there are three. It was heretoforethe practice to have the projecting end of each studthreaded forreception of a nut to completethe assembling of each sprin The troublewith tha-t practice wasthatit necessitated six separate and distinctassembling operations for the springs alone andthe handling of amultiplicity of parts, all of which meant slowed down production andhigh labor cost. The springs 15, in accordance with my invention, arearranged to be caged in pairs and held. under compression by covers 17reaching from one stud to the next between two adjoining release levers(see Flg. 1). These covers, which I prefer to stamp from sheet metal forthe.

sake of cheapness and lightness, are suitably channel-shaped incross-section for maximum strength and rigidity. Flanges 18 are thuspresented on each cover at opposite sides of a lug 19 suitably castintegralv with the back of the pressure plate 10 approximately midwaybetween the holes 14 through which the pair of studs 13 arranged tocooperate with the pair of springs 15 are arranged-to be entered. Twotransverse holes 20 and 21 are provided in the lug 19 through one ofwhich a nail or. any other form of pin 22, is arranged to be passed toquickly detachably secure the cover 17 to the pressure plate 10 holdingthe pair of springs 15 under compression as illustrated in Fig. 2. Thatis the way all of the springs are'arranged to be held caged and undercompression on the pressure plate as the clutch is shipped to the carmanufacturer. Suitable recesses 23 are shown cast in the back of thepressure plate 10 for the seating of the springs 15. The ends of each ofthe covers 17 are formed with circular flanges 24, concentric with holes25 punched in theends of the cover, so as to hold the other ends of thesprings 15 in position. Lugs 26 are struck inwardly from the backof'each cover further to retain the springs 15, and the small slot-s27which arethus formed in the back of the. cover are taken advantage of tohold a locking lever 28 in place. The lever 28 is pivoted intermediatethe ends of the cover 17 on the back thereof, as by means of a rivet 29,and has slight bosses 30 struck therefrom near the opposite ends thereofarranged to enter the slots 27 to hold the lever yieldingly in alignmentwith the cover against turning about the pivot 29. The opposite ends ofthe lever 28 are provided with slots 31, the slot at one end openingfrom one side and theslot at the other end opening from the other sideof the lever, as shown in holes 21 are spaced with reference to theholes 20 adistance equivalent to the average slipped over the studs 13:until the endso f the studs'13 project through the holes Now;

it will be observed that theflends ,ofthestuds" 13 are provided withannular grooves 32: so located-that when, the pressure plate; 10 'isbrought into engagementwith the clutch-disc andbrings the latter, intoengagement with theulywlieel, the studs-13 are projecting through thecovers 17 far enough to, permit the slotted endsofthe'levers 28tobeengaged:

V in said grooves, as shown in Figs. 3 and Th pins 22 can now bepulledout easily-by means ofpliers, especially if thee-clutchv isreleased part way. Obviously, the pinholes 2() provided in theilanges,18 of the covers will not remain in register with the holes 20,

= especially as the clutch faoings 19 becomewori'i more andmore, butreleaseofthe clutch pro duces relative movement between the pres? sureplate and the covers; and hence between.

uriu

lugs 19' and the flanges 18, so that these ll lfis can be-brought intoregister to permit entering of-pinstherethrough fora purpose which Iwillnow descrlb'e.

7 When the pressure plate is shippedto the Garmanufacturer the pins -22fare entered in the outer holes 20 and thesprings l5 a-re held, under agiven load, estimatedzto beflabout. right for the proper functioningoftheclutch in its new and unworn'pondition. :After some months of'servicethe clutch-iacings. T will be found to show enough wear toimake: itadvisable for a'take-up tobe made because.

the wear has caused the spring pressureto become too light andtheclut'chtends to slip,

easily. It has heretoforebeen the practice i to place the pressure plateunder a heavier:

than normal spring pressure at thetime of assembling the clutch tocompensate for this.

wear. The trouble with that practice was that the clutch on anew car wasveryghard to -operate, especially-for a lady drlver, and

there were apt to be complaints. According to my invention there willbeno necessity lioroverloading at the beginning. Itus. a

simple matter after the initial wear to simply. release the clutchenough to bring the 71111181 holes 21 on the lugs 19 in'register withthe holes QOin the flanges 18 of the covers17 to permit entering pins 22therethrough. The

fora given amount of mileage. Furthermore, the'change inrelationshipbetween the covers 17 and the pressure plate 10. is enoughto bring a second set of grooves .83 provided onthe studs:18,-i3orrespondingly spaced with reference to the othersetof grooves32,;in positlon forv locklngengagement "w th? the"slottedendsofthelevers 2 8. Therefore, it is evident that the covers 17are adjusted; bodily inwardly on thestuds 1'3fgenough to coinpen'? sateforthe wear of the clutch facings'Q and make the samespring pressureavailable-.011

the. pressure plate 110 with the clutch;iii-its;v 8O

worn-conditiontas' the clutch ha-dwhen iti'was new. The wearoftheclutchdisc facing-s is found. to be greater for the first few months servicethan it is later sothatthere is jusually no serious ne'edfor any furthertake up for spring tensioning. However, it will be evident that a-thirds'etof pinholes and a correlated third set of grooves,- or even fourthsets of holes and grooves, might be provided fwdesired, that being anobvious extension of the novel ideaajustdescribed. 'f V Eachof therelease levers-16 is stamped from sheet metal to a generally channelsshaped cross section, thus affording the-requisit'e strength andrigidity without involvingfl excessive welghhand at the same time1113-11111};

for cheapnesslf The side flanges '34 [ofeach leverv have registeringholes punchedthercloss in 'thicknessof the clutchdiscifacings V in forthe reception of a rivet pin 86.

pivota llyxmounting the lever between spaced parallel lugs 37 castintegral with the pressure platejlfi). V-The levers 16, of which therearet-hree, as'indi-cat'ed above, are;disposed in 'equallycircumferentially spaced relation'and extend substantially radiallyinwardly .toward the am -of the-clutchfo'r. engagem V attheir inner endswith the throwpu-t sleeve vnt (not shown). A'square stud 38 threadedlymounted'on the flywheel 5,-as indicated at139',

is provided for each-of the release levers; and 1 has a close workingfit in aslot 40 provided thereforin the pressure plate between the lugs37.'-. Thus: the studs 38 actas guides for the pressure plate intheengaging and-disengag in'g'mov-ements thereof, and also can-scythe 1same tolturn with the flywheel. iEach' stnd has the inner end thereofprovided with a spheroidal socket ilarranged to reoeivethe rouhdedinnerend-of anedjustabfle set screw.

e2 threaded in thebaclr of the releaseley a punched and; tapped hole 43I provided i the latter. lock. nut 44 threadedon the projecting outeiend oftheset screw 42 arranged when tightened to j am against the backof the release leverto lock the set screw in adjusted position}; The carmanufacturer fits. each flywheel with studs .38 located in accordancewith the specifications of the clutch to be used, and there istherefore'no diificultyingetting the rounded inner-endsof the I setscrews 42 to line .up with V the'soclr'ets ll in the outer ends of thestuds 38 in the being each backed up a few turns for that purpose. Thelock nuts 44 when tightened serve to hold the set screws in adjustedposi tion. U-shaped springs 45 are provided simply for the purposeofholding the levers 16 with the screws 42 engaging in the sockets 41,against the tendency of centrifugal force to swing the same outwardlywith reference to the pressure plate. Each spring has engagement with arelease lever by the crotch portion thereof near the inner end of thelever,

' and has the free ends of the arms thereof provided with one, two, ormore coils l? where the ends are entered through holes 48 provided inlugs 4C9 cast integral with the back of the pressure plate. Theextremities of the spring are bent as shown at 50 to permanentlyassemble the spring on the pressure plate. Obviously, it is a simplematter in the assembling of the levers on the pressure plate to enterthe ends of the springs 45 through the holes 48 and bend them over withthe aid of pliers, or a hammer, or both. The springs form a part of thepressure plate assembly as the latter is received by the carmanufacturer.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a clear understandingof my invention and of its various objects and advantages. While I havemade reference to various specific details of construction andarrangement, it should be evident that many changes might bemade withoutseriously departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The

appended claims have, therefore, been drawn broadly enough to cover alllegitimate modifications and adaptations coming within the purview of myinvention.

' Iclaim:

1. In a friction clutch, the combination with a driving element, such asa flywheel, and a driven element, such as a clutch disc, of a pluralityof studs projecting rearwardly from the flywheel, a pressureplate havingopenings provided therein for the projection therethrough of said studs,springs on the back of the pressure plate about said openings, means forholding all of said springs ca ed in their assigned positions on thepressure plate so that they are all arranged to be brought into positionover the studs at one time when the pressure plate is placed on the ingopenings provided therein'for the proj ection therethrough of saidstuds, springs on the back of the pressure plate about said openings,means for releasably holding all of said springs caged and undercompression in their assigned positions on the pressure plate so thatthey are all arranged to be brought into position over the studs at onetime when the pressure plate is placed on the studs in the assemblingthereof on the flywheel, means placed on the outer ends of said studsfor holding the springs in assembled position, said means serving toback up the springs and assume the pressure thereof when the lastmentioned means is released, whereby the pressure plate is normallyurged toward the flywheel under the action of said springs, and meansfor Imoving the pressure plate away from the flywheel against the actionof said springs.

3. In a friction clutch, the combination with a driving element, such asa flywheel, and a driven element, such as a clutch disc, of a pluralityof studs projecting rearwardly from the flywheel, a pressure platehaving openings provided therein for the projection therethrough of saidstuds, springs on the back of the pressure plate about said open ings,one or more cover members for holding said springs caged in theirassigned positions on the pressure plateso that they are arranged to bebrought into place over the studs at the same time when the pressureplate is placed on said studs in the assembling thereof on the flywheel,said covers having openings therein in register with the openings in thepressure plate through which the outer ends of the studs are arranged tobe projected, means placed on the projecting ends of said studs behindthe covers to hold the covers with the springs in assembled positionwith thesprings under compression whereby normally to urge the pressureplate toward the flywheel, and means for moving the pressure plate awayfrom the flywheel against the action of said springs.

4. In a friction clutch, the combination with a driving element, such asa flywheel, and a driven element, such as a clutch disc, of a pluralityof studs projecting rearwardly from the flywheel, a pressure platehaving openings provided therein for the projec- 4 whereby to permit theplacing of V sure plate, the cover memhers to the pressure'plateholdtion therethrough ot said studs, springs on' the back of-th'epressure -plate about'said openings, one or more cover inemberssforholding said springs caged and under fcompression in their-assignedpositions Onthe.

pressure plate, means for releasably -securing the cover inen berstothepressureplate'holct serings 1n the manner described the springs ing theoverthc studs on the flywheel at the same time when the pressure-plateis placed over said studs in the assembling thereof on'tlie c flywheel,said-"covers havingopenings therein-in register-Withtheopenings infthepressure plate through which theouter ends. projectedin the assemblingoperation,lmeans placed said studsare 'arrang'edto he the projecting jensenihled on I the studs, the same being ar' ranged to Vassume'L-thelload-i of the springs when the covers; 'are'f releasedz tromronneotienwith the pressure platewhereby the pressure plate, is normally urgedtowardl-the flywheel, and-means ior moving the pressure plate away .froni the rfly-wheel aga nst the actionhofsaidv springs; 1

w 5. "In .arifrictron I "clutch, ithe combination with a drivingelement, such fi'auflywheel, anda driven element, such as a clutch dlsc,of a plurality of; studs projecting 'rearwardly' from the fiyiwheel a.pressure platev having openings provided'thereinfor the projectiontherethrough of said studs,l springs ion the s back of the pressureplate about said openns's ing said springs caged and under compres one}or. more cover members ffOI" holds sion in: their assignedfpositijons'onrthe. pres- =means.;for releasably securing ing the springsfning the.manner -described whereby to permit the placing otthesprin'gs: over the.studs on the 'flywheel at-the same time whenz the pressure, plateislplaced over 1 said studs in the assembling thereof on the flywheel,said covershaving openings therei in in register with theopjenings'inthepres sure fplate. through which the outer ends of springs, and means 7said studsare arranged to be projectedzin' the. i assembling operation,the "outeriends of the studs being prov1ded with recesses-z meanscarried on the backofithe covers-arranged to; be engaged in; saidrecesses to hold the springs and covers?assembled'pn'the. studs;

said-means beingrarranged to assumethe load or the springs whenthefcovers are released from connectionwith the pressure .plate wherebytheipressure plateisnormally urged toward the fiywheeluncler-the actionof said for; moving the-,-pressur'e plate away. from thefiywheel:against the ac tionof-said springs I In a friction clutch, thecombination witha driving element-,su'oh' as a flywheel, .v and. a Vdriven e1ement,, such as a clutch disc,

I sf ofithe studs behindthe: zcovers tOgllOld' the-springs andgicoversasof-aplurality of studs projecting re'a'rWardly .from theflywheeh-apressure plate having openings provided therein for theprojection Vtherethro'ugh of said studs, springs on tl 1e bStCkDf thepressure plate about'said .open-.

ings, one or more cover memhersfor holding the springs caged in theirassigned positions on the pressure plate, S2i1d"COVIS b1Ilg ar ranged tobe rele'asably secured to the pres sure plate holding the springs'in theposi;

tions described whereby to permit 7 the tpla c-l ng of allot the springsover the studson the llVWilQEl atthe same time when the pressure;

7 plate" is placedfover said studs in thegassem bling thereof onth'exfiy-wheel,thespringsbeing arrangedto be compressed'and held un:der. compression by the covers, said covers forv moving the pressure.plate from-the flywheel, against the action ofsaidsprings,

V a 7. A clutch as ,SQtfQItll in claim 6 wherein. the means arranged tobeiplaced-on the pro.-

jecting ends of said ,studsforiholdi1igthe. V

springs with the, covers assembled onv the studs comprises latchmembersmounted .on.

the backs of the covers for movement toward and away fronrtheprojectingends of the studs, the projecting ends lot the studs be' ing therein of,portions of said latches.

'8. A'clutch as set forth Lc'lamI-GWhereiIi':

themeans arranged to he placed on the outer ends of sald studs forholding "the springs: with the covers assembled: on the studs 60111:"

prises latch members pivotally mounted on turned relative to the covertowardand'away provided with recesses for the reception the backs of thecoversand arranged to be I from the projecting ends, ofthe studs,'-thelatter having recesses provided therein for rece'ption ofportions or said'latches F 9; clutch as settorth in claim 6i-wherein themeans arrangedto be placed on-the outer ends'of saidwstuds. forholdingthesprings :with the covers assembled on the studs coin priseslatchmembers, eachassociatedflwith a cover and a. pair ofadjoining"studsand pivot-ally mounted intermediate the ends there oi?onfthe back :of the cover for swinging movement relative thereto tohringthe ends thereof toward and away from engagement with the projectingends oft-he studsfthe opposite ends or each latch having-slotsprovideditherein, the one opening from'one side f edge and the otheropening from'the opposite side edgeof the latch, and the projecting endsof said studs being provided with grooves wherein the slotted portionsoi the latches are arranged to be entered.

10. A clutch as set forth in claim 6 wherein the means arranged to beplaced on the projecting ends of said studs for holding the springs withthe covers assembled on the studs comprises latch members mounted. onthe backs of the covers f r movement toward and away from the projectingends of the studs, the projecting ends of the studs being provided withrecesses for the reception therein of portions of said latches, andincluding means for holding the latches in closed position. i

11. A clutch asset forth in clain 6 wherein the means arranged to beplaced on the pro jecting ends of said studs for vholding the springswith the covers assembled on the studs comprises latch membersmounted onthe backs of the covers for movement toward and away fromthe projecting.endsof the studs, the. projecting ends of the studs being provided withrecesses for the reception therein of portions of said latches, andincluding means. for holding the latches in closed-position comprisingone or more openings in one of the relatively swingable parts arrangedto receive one or more projections provided on the other part. v

12. In a friction clutch, the combination with a driving element, suchas a flywheel, and a driven element, such as a clutch disc, of aplurality of studs projecting rearwardly from the flywheel, a pressureplate having openings provided therein for the projection 'therethroughof said studs, springs on the back of the pressure plate about saidopenmgs, one or more cover members for holdin g the springs caged intheir assigned positions 'on the pressure plate whereby all of thesprings are arranged to be placed over the studs on the flywheel in oneoperation when the pressure plate is placed over the studs in theassembling thereof on the flywheel, said cover members serving as amedium for placing the springs under compression, the pressure platehaving projections reaching toward the covers and the covers 11 vingportions projecting toward the same arranged to be quickly releasablyattached thereto, as by means of pins passed through registeringopenings provided therein, said covers having openings provided thereinregistering with the openings provided in the pressure plate throughwhich the outer ends of the studs are arranged to be projected in theassembling operation, means placed on the ou er ends of said studs tohold the covers with the springs assembledon the studs, the said meansserving to assume the load of the springs when the covers aredisconnected from the pressure plate whereby the latter is normallyurged toward the flywheel under the action of said springs, and meansfor moving the pressure plate away from the flywheel against the actionof said spring.

13. ;A clutch as set forth in claim 12 wherein themeans placed on theouter ends of said studs to hold the springs withthe covers astherethrough of said studs, springs on the backof the pressure plateabout said openings, one or more cover members for holding the springscaged in their assigned positions on the pressure plate whereby all ofthe springs are arranged tobeplaced over the studs on the flywheel inone operation when the pressure plate is placed over the studs in theassembling thereof on the-flywheel, said cover members serving as amedium for placing the springs under compression, the pressure platehaving projections reaching toward the covers and the covers havingportions projecting toward the same arranged to be quickly releasablyattached thereto, as by means of pins passed through registeringopenings provided therein, said covershaving openings provided thereinregistering with the openings provided in the pressure plate throughwhich the outer ends of the studs are arranged. to be projected in theassemblingoperation', latching means on the backs of the covers arrangedto be engaged in recesses provided in the outer ends of said studswhereby to hold the springs with the covers assembled on the studs, thesaid means serving to assume the load of the springs when the covers arereleased from connection with the pressure plate whereby the latter isnormally urged toward the flywheel, there being a plurality of recessesin said studs for reception of the latching means in different positionsof the covers for the purpose herein described and the coversbeingadapted new ack o th p s e pla e. out sa d; epe r ings, a covermember for eachpair offads oinin s rin s ,servin to hold the .same' g ea l a sed in he assig Posi ons o the pr s-i sure plate, there beinga-projection; on the back of the pressure plate reachingtoward eachcover, the projectionseach having-,a transverse hole therethrough andthe; covers having portions, having registering holes to permitthepassageof a pin or the; equivalent therethrough for detachablysecuring-the cov ers to the pressure plate, .thesprings being thusarranged to be passed Over thevstuds the same time when thepressuregjplate is r placed over the-studs in the assembling there? ofon the flywheel, saidlsprings beingjar;v

ranged to be placed undercompression through the medium of said covers,saidcoV- ers having openings" therein registering with the openings inthe pressure plate through which the outer ends or the studs arearranged to be projected in the assembllng operation, means placed-onthe projecting ends of said studs behind the covers to hold a thesprings with the covers assembled on the studs with the springs undercompression,

' therethrough 0f said studs, springson the back of the pressureplatej'about said openings, a cover member for each 'pairiof ad- 1oining springs serving to hold the same caged in their assignedpositions on the pressure plate, eachof said covers being formed fromsheet metal to substantially channelsha 36d cross-section there bein aro'ection on the back of the pressure-plate reaching toward each coverbetween the flanges thereof, the projections each having a transversehole thcrethroughand. the flanges having registering holes to permit thepassage of a pin or the equivalent therethrough for detachablysecuringthe coverst-o the pressure plate, the springsbeing thus arrangedto be passed over the studs at the same'time when the pressure plateis-placed over the studs in the assembling thereof on the flywheel, said7 springs being arranged to be placed under compression through themedium of said covers, said covers having openings therein registeringwith the openings in the pressure plate through which the outerendsofthe studs.

are arranged to be projected in the assembling operation, means placedon the proj-eeting ends of said studs behind the covers to hold thesprings with the covers assembled on the studs with the sprlngs undercomo pression, and means for moving the pressure Pl t wayfr t e flyheel, againstthe ac; tion of saidgsprings.

'17, A clutch as set'torth i -claim 15 .W1-iere-.

ineach cover is'arranged to, be pinned'onto the pressure plate with thesprings held caged undercojmpression, andwherein the means placed-on theouter ends-of the studsto, hold the springs with the coverassembld 11 hstuds comprises latching n eans on theback of; the cover arranged tobe-engagedjn-res. cesses provided therefor in the outer ends of tiestuds, the said latching means being are (ranged to assume the-load ofthe springswh a the cover is released from COHIIGGUQH," w th h p es urevp te-.1

18, A; clutchas settor-th in each cover is arranged to bepinnedontothepr re plat i h he pr ngs he sica'g under compression, anditrhe feinthej means ela on th ou ie o he s uds. t holdi,

the sp-rings ;withthe eovjer assembled onjthei studs ampuses-"atchesmean n: he be of the cover arranged-"to be engaged in re-Q cesseprovided'therefor in the. outer-end he studs, 1 id e ehmamea s eing ar:

r ge as ume e le d the p in when h ver is lea e te m, conn on, w thzthepressure plate,,t e cover bei r-.

ng d t ber ne f p e.Pre ure p at in, di fierent positions with thesprings placed under different degrees of compression, and h es e e f ts u e ngPro ide with a plurality of recesses arranged to re of the coverfor the purpose described,

19. A clutch. as set for-thin claim 3 wherein'the means placed on theouter ends of said,

studs for holding thesprings in assembled posltion comprises latchesnount-edon the,

backs of the covers arranged to be movedin to "engagement in recessesprovided: therefor-in the'outer ends of saidstuds,f. th ere beingaplurality of sets} of said recesses, each set .oa

recesses being in the sameplahmfand said;

- latches being engageable selectively infeither set of recesseswher-ebyto-hold the springs under a; desired amount of compression.

' .20. In a friction' clutch, the combination ceive. the latch meansingdifierentpositions with a driving element, such flywheel,

and a. drivenelement, such asfa, clutch Jdisc,

of a plurality of; studs'projecting rearwardly, from the flywheel, v apressure plate having, openings provided therein for-the projectiontherethrough of. said studs, springs; on the back of the pressure plateabout said open-V ings, one or more cover members for holding.-

' said springs caged in theirassigned .posi;

tions on the pressure plate-,ineans for-releas ably securing the covermembers to the pres sure plate holding the springs-in the mannerdescribed wherebyzto permit the placing ofthe springs over, the studs,11 the flywheel at he same ti e" when th Pre ure Pl t is:

placed over said studs in the. assembling 1 thereof on the vflywheel, Isaid carers having the pressure plate is normally urged toward theflywheel under the action of said springs, and means for moving thepressure plate away from the flywheel against the action of saidsprings.

21. A clutch as set forth in claim 6 where in the means arranged to beplaced on the outer ends of said studs for holding the springs with thecovers assembled on the studs comprises latch members, each associatedwith a cover and a pair of adjoining studs and pivotally mountedintermediate the ends thereof on the back of the cover for pivotalmovement relative thereto to bring the ends thereof toward and away fromengagement with the projecting ends of the studs, and the projectingends of said studs being provided with recesses for reception of theends of the latches.

22. A clutch as set forth in claim 12 wherein the projections on thepressure plate are arranged to be quickly releasably attached to theportions of the covers in either one of a plurality ofpositions, as bymeans of pins passed through openings adapted to register in thedifi'erent positions of the cover with respect to the pressure plate.

23. In a friction clutch, the combination with a driving element, suchas a flywheel,'

and a driven element,'s u ch as a clutch disc, of a plurality of studsprojecting rearwardly from the flywheel, a pressure plate having"openings provided therein for the projection therethrough of said studs,springs on the back of the pressure plate about said openings, one ormore cover membersfor holding thesprings caged in their assignedpositions on the pressure plate whereby all of the springs are arrangedto be placed over the studson the flywheel in one operation when thepressure plate is placed over the studs in the assembling thereof on theflywheel, said cover members serving as a medium for placing the springsunder compression, the pressure plate having projections reaching toward the covers and the covers having portions projecting toward thesame arranged to be quickly releasably'attached thereto, as by means ofpins passed through registering openings provided therein, said covershaving openings provided therein registering with the openings providedin the pressure plate through which the outer ends ofthe studs arearranged to be projected in the assembling operation, latching means onthe backs of the covers arranged to be engaged in recesses provided inthe outer ends of said studs whereby to hold the springs with the coversassembled on the studs, the said means serving to assume the load of thesprings when the covers are released from connection with the pressureplate whereby the latter is normally urged toward the-flywheel, therebeing a plurality ofrecesses in said studs for reception of the latchingmeans in different positions of the covers for the purpose hereindescribed, and means formoving the pressure plate away from the flywheelagainst the action of said springs.

In witness of the foregoing I atflx my signature. j

' WILLIAM F. HUGHES.

